Canada has capped the maximum number of study permit applications for 2026 at 309,670. The international student cap limits the number of study permit applications that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) accepts for processing yearly. A total of 309,670 study permit application spaces will be available under the cap for 2026.
This represents the maximum number of study permit applications IRCC will accept for processing from PAL/TAL-required students for the calendar year. Applicants must obtain an attestation letter from the province or territory where they plan to study for their study permit application.
Each province and territory has been allocated a share of the 309,670 study permit application spaces as a maximum to be accepted for processing. Each province or territory is responsible for distributing its allocated spaces to its respective designated learning institutions.
International Student Cap Limits
Introduced in 2024, international student cap limits have been an effective tool in slowing the growth of Canada’s temporary population, with the number of study permit holders dropping from over 1 million in January 2024 to about 725,000 by September 2025. Canada’s target is to bring the temporary population to below 5% of the total population by the end of 2027.
As outlined in the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, next year, IRCC expects to issue up to 408,000 study permits, including 155,000 to newly arriving international students, and 253,000 extensions for current and returning students. This number is 7% lower than the 2025 issuance target of 437,000 and 16% lower than the 2024 issuance target of 485,000.
Drop in International Student Arrivals
Canada is facing a substantial decline in new international students in 2025, with notable decreases in arrivals observed across all months, especially September and October, when compared to the previous year.
The data from the first ten months of 2025 indicates a significant overall drop in international student arrivals. In the first ten months of 2025, Canada experienced a 60% decrease in new international student arrivals, with 153,820 fewer students arriving compared to the same period in 2024.